3 in a row

[villagenut]

For those that play MTT's, what are reasonable expectations for being ITM and making final tables. I realize the lower entry tournaments with large fields, the expectation goes down. BUT as you move up in entry fees you meet better competiton and therefore the percentage may fall also.

I have now made ITM 3 times in a row one of which was a final table. I must admit, it has taken me quite some time to get there. There were 1400-1600 people in each of these. $1 and $2 entries.

I'm just curious as to what might be a reasonable expectation and while we're at it, what is your longest ITM streak.

[thenonsequitur]

I think 20% give or take is reasonable ITM%.

You can get ITM more often if you play uber-conservative, but it would be at the expense of value which will mean fewer big wins and less money in the long run, so it's not worth it.

I don't remember my longest ITM% streak, but I once won consecutively, #1 in a 500-player tourney immediately followed by #3 in a 600-player tourney. One of those days where it was impossible for me to lose a 70/30, or even a 53/47 for that matter, along with things like the good end of set-over-set and quads over FH. Not to mention eight hours of very focused play and great reads.

That was a good day.

[chardrian]

I have quite a few streaks of 3 ITMs in a row and my best deep streak was 2 back to back FTs (2nd and 3rd place). I have also gone 20 tournies in a row without cashing.

20% ITM is what your goal should be, and depending how big the fields are that you are playing somewhere between 3-5% should be your FT goal.

I plan on FTing sumtin soon.

[CDN Panther]

I honestly don't think the numbers above are realistic if you are playing in large field MTT"s. Keep in mind to turn a profit you need to be above 11% typically (10% of the field gets money from the prize pool, and 1% for the entry fee). If you get ITM at a lower %, you can offset your losses by going far ITM.

If you are playing against 1600 players in a $10 tourney the payouts will be something like this

1- 3500
2 - 2100
3 - 1400

that means if you enter 318 tournaments and place 1st once, but never make ITM besides that one time you will break even. That means if you place in the money at 0.3% of the time provided you win, you can stay afloat. I'm not trying to point anything out by the obvious, and that's the fact that ITM means very little, Final Tables and your corresponding finishes mean alot. I have a ITM % far lower then the 20% recommended, but I have 4 wins out of 5 final tables, and the other final table was a 2nd place finish.

Your ability to make th emost of your ITM finishes is what will make you $$$, just making the money will do nothing for you. My roomate has been ITM 16% of the time, I'm just about 11%. I have a Bankrool 9x his because he has only made 2 final tables and finished 4 and 8th. Making Final tables, and making the most of those final tables makes all the difference in growing your bankroll. When there are more players playing a tourney, the final tables are harder to hit, but pay out a lot more on your initial investment. Therefore the further you go ITM the better a return you will see.

My best streak was 3 ITM's, and it was a weekend to remember as I finished 16th out of 550 players in a $22 buy in, then chopped a pot (3 of us in it) with 1600 players and a $11 buy in, then I took home first in a 180 $22 Sng.

[chardrian]

I honestly don't think the numbers above are realistic if you are playing in large field MTT"s.

I agree that going deep is the most important. But I play almost all large field MTTs and my ITM rate is right around 20%.

What do you think the goals should be?